Fire Safety and Arson Prevention

[Howard Hartman]

Isiah Leggett County Executive

Thomas W. Carr, Jr. Fire Chief

Fire Chief Tom Carr of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) wants you to know that several fires have recently occurred in your community. To help improve the odds of survival for you and your family should your house catch fire, he urges you to carefully review the Two Fire Safety Tips listed below. Taking action today may prevent tragedy tomorrow!

Install & Maintain Smoke Detectors
Install them on each level of your home and outside of each sleeping area. Test them at least once a month and replace batteries at least twice a year (or whenever a detector chirps to signal that its battery is low).

Plan & Practice To Escape
Plan TWO ways out of every room! Choose a meeting place outside where everyone will gather. Once you are out, STAY OUT! At least twice a year, have the whole family practice the escape plan.

Some of the fires in your community may be due to arson. Arson is a serious crime, is the second leading cause of residential fire deaths, and accounts for approximately 25 percent of all fires in the United States.

What to do to prevent Arson:

• Report all suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities in or near your community.
  
  
• Remember specific details about suspicious persons and vehicles. A good description may help police and fire officials to identify them.
  
  
• Make sure all outside lights are turned on at night.
  
  
• Eliminate readily available fuel for fire such as wood piles, paper, leaves, trash, and combustibles.

Anyone with information about arsons should call 240-777-2263. An investigator will take your information and your identity will remain confidential. Callers receiving a voice mail are asked to leave a phone number where an investigator can return the call and still protect the caller’s identity. Callers providing information that leads to an arrest and/or conviction will be eligible for a monetary reward of up to $1,000.